16.285 Hotpot

Cycle 16 – Item 285

Post 5,764

17 (Fri) October 2025

Hotpot

4.0

on MSY Mola Mola 1

-Banda Sea, Indonesia-

with fellow divers

Living Aboard the Mola Mola: Day 5 of 7

- Day -4 (16.277 Nasi Goreng Kampoeng)
- Day -3 (16.278 Ikan Bakar)
- Day -2 (16.279 Chicken & Beef Platter)
- Day -1 (16.280 Buntut Goreng)
- Day 1 (16.281 Beef Semur)
- Day 2 (16.282 Egg Fuyunghai)
- Day 3 (16.283 Egg Balado)
- Day 4 (16.284 Ayam Goreng Lengkuas)
- Day 5 (16.285 Hotpot)
- Day 6 (16.286 Beef Rendang)
- Day 7 (16.287 BBQ with “My” Sambal)
- Day +1 (16.288 Fried Chicken Nusantara (Quarter Chicken Package))

In Indonesia. Here for a 7-day liveaboard scuba diving trip: sailing across the Banda Sea on board the MSY Mola Mola, while diving, eating, drinking, sleeping (i.e., “living aboard”) the boat. The Banda Sea is one of four seas surrounding the archipelago of Maluku Islands aka the Spice Islands (where European powers fought wars during the 16th-17th centuries to gain control of the islands’ abundant spices, such as nutmeg, cloves, and mace). Primary objective: sighting schools of hammerhead sharks. (Two prior liveaboard trips were both to the Maldives aboard the MV Adora (see previously 14.062 Sautéed Sword Lettuce (Three Times) (2023) (9.191 Grilled Beef Tenderloin (2018).) My first time ever in Indonesia – who knows if I’ll ever return? – I arrived a few days early to maximize the visit and hang out in Jakarta.

MSY Mola Mola in Ambon Bay, with Merah Putih Bridge in the distant background.

DIVE 13

-Pohon Mirin-

My first confirmed sighting of a hammerhead, just a single shark, briefly in the distance.

As yet, none of the groups have encountered a school.

DIVE 14

-Batu Kapal-

Another reef penetration (see also Dive 11).

At one point, a diver in the back turns on a torch, making it look like I’m emerging from some kind of a celestial spring.

This is the only video of the me on the entire trip (that I’m aware of).

LUNCH

Rica-Rica is an Indonesian dish. Meat or fish of any kind, either cooked directly in or grilled then slathered in bumbu, a spicy sauce – “rica = spicy” – typically comprising chilies, shallots, garlic, ginger, sugar, salt, plus lime leaves, lime juice, lemongrass, sometimes coconut milk/oil.

DIVE 15

-Lava Flow-

Gunung Api volcano – look closely to see black volcanic rock flowing from the tip of the mountain into the sea.

Lava Flow was one of the most memorable dives in my experience. After the volcano erupted in 1988, the lava hardened on the surrounding seabed, creating fertile ground for coral reefs to develop, including the sites signature blue cabbage corals. What’s so visually striking is that the entire seabed is covered in corals as far as the eye can see, no sand in sight, giving the impression of a psychedelic dreamscape.

It was my 200th dive.

If everything goes according to schedule, I’ll end the trip on #206.

Now on my 4th dive log (each log contains 60).

TOUR

In lieu of a 4th dive, we spent the afternoon on the island of Banda Neira.

Mosque (empty stalls used by vendors whenever the ferry comes in).

Rumah Budaya (Cultural House), a local history museum.

Delfika Guesthouse & Café is an Indonesian guesthouse and café, as well as restaurant. According to the website, it’s an “old Dutch mansion” built in the 18th century.